Local student’s good deeds stretch from here to Africa, literally

Winfield, IL |  October 27, 2009

Chicago-native and Gordon College Junior Megan Kelley will travel to refugee camps in Uganda with the United Nations Foundation’s Nothing But Nets—a global, grassroots campaign to prevent malaria in Africa from October 23-30, 2009 to help distribute anti-malaria bed nets. She will join two other supporters and Nothing But Nets Director Adrianna Logalbo on the UN Foundation-led trip to Uganda where they will meet with displaced families and representatives from the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) to learn more about the malaria burden.

“I’m excited to join the United Nations Foundation and its Nothing But Nets campaign to help distribute these life-saving bed nets,” said Kelley. “It’s shocking that close to one million people die every year from malaria, but inspiring to know anyone can save a life through this campaign by simply sending a net.”

Kelley has been a Nothing But Nets supporter since its inception in 2006. She was selected to join the trip when she won the 2009 United Nations Foundation MTV Exiled contest, a sweepstakes in partnership with Think MTV. Kelley will document her experience through a video diary on think.mtv.com and on nothingbutnets.net. She has already traveled to Uganda twice with non-profit organizations to work with children.

Kelley is committed to bettering the lives of people who are less fortunate. In addition to studying International Affairs and Nonprofit Organization Management, she works as the Youth Program Director at Beverly Bootstraps Community Services, Inc., a nonprofit organization that empowers people to get back on their feet after falling on hard times. She is in charge of the after school programs for children of their clients. Upon graduation, she hopes to work for a nonprofit organization doing relief work around the world. She is most interested in working for the UNHCR or UNICEF.

“I’m eager for Megan to travel with us to Uganda to meet with displaced families to see firsthand how her support is making a big difference,” said Adriana Logalbo. “It’s through the commitment of young leaders like Megan that we are making strides in the fight to end malaria.”

Along with the bed nets, Kelley will help distribute thousands of messages of hope, including her own, to displaced families in the camps. These messages of hope have been collected from supporters across the U.S. over the past year, and offer personal words of encouragement to the families receiving the bed nets.

Malaria infects more than 500 million people around the world each year. The disease is a leading killer of children and refugees in Africa, where 90 percent of malaria deaths occur. Every 30 seconds a child in Africa dies from a malaria infection. Bed nets prevent malaria transmission by creating a protective barrier against mosquitoes at night, when the vast majority of transmissions occur.

This year, Nothing But Nets has teamed up with the UNHCR to protect more than one million refugees in 15 African countries from malaria. The campaign has passed the halfway mark, and can achieve its goal if 200,000 people donate $10 by December 31, 2009. Nothing But Nets is encouraging all of its supporters to give the gift of life to a refugee in Africa this holiday season. For only $10, anyone can send a net and save a life.

About Nothing But Nets:
Nothing But Nets is a global, grassroots campaign to save lives by preventing malaria, a leading killer of children in Africa. Inspired by sports columnist Rick Reilly, more than 100,000 people have joined the campaign that was created by the United Nations Foundation in 2006. Founding campaign partners include the National Basketball Association’s NBA Cares, the people of The United Methodist Church, and Sports Illustrated. It costs just $10 to provide a long-lasting, insecticide-treated bed net to prevent this deadly disease. Visit www.NothingButNets.net to send a net and save a life.

About Think MTV:
Think MTV (Think.MTV.com) is dynamic, multimedia-driven and enables youth to easily learn more about the issues that matter to them most, share their opinions -- via uploaded online videos, podcasts and blogs – and connect with others to make a difference. The site is one of the only to reward members for positive actions taken online or off, serving up chances to hang out with socially conscious celebs, access to exclusive MTV events, exposure on MTV and other national media outlets, as well as grants, scholarships and more. Think.MTV.com was built and launched with the support and expertise of The Case Foundation, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, The Goldhirsh Foundation and The MCJ Amelior Foundation. For more information or to build a profile and become involved, visit Think.MTV.com.

Media Contact:
Amy DiElsi, Communications Director for Children’s Health
202-419-3230; adielsi@unfoundation.org

Janice Gatti, Director of Communications, MTV
212-846-8852; janice.gatti@mtvstaff.com